5 For further illustration, in
reference
to
this Iri.
this Iri.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
, Ap- the year 603.
See Historia Ecclesiastics.
rilis xviii.
Vita S.
Lasreani, cap.
i.
, sec.
1.
,
"
Gentis Anglorum," lib. i. , cap. xxxiv. The p. 544.
king himself escaped. Being deeply afflicted, however, at the result of his expedition, he died of grief about two years afterwards, at Kentyre, after having attained nearly his
'' In the Salamancan Manuscript.
* See Rev. John Cunningham's "Church History of Scotland," vol. i. , chap, iii. , p. 54.
ever been entombed. See Fordun's Chronicon," vol. i. , lib. iii. , cap. xxxviii,
lico. See vol. i. , part 1. , p. 229. "* "
Scoti-
2o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i8.
other primitive missionaries had preceded him and had shared in the good work:. 3' TheBbllandistssuppose,tliatwhentheboywasabouttwelveorfour- teen years of age, his mother brought him over to Albyn. In Scotland, also,
St. Molassi, or Laisrin, was greatly venerated. 3^ There his grandfather lived. This likewise is called his natal country, in the old Life, although it is quite evident from the context, that our saint was born in Ireland. Other contra- dictory accounts are found in his Acts. Thus, Laserian is said to have spent four years in Scotland, according to the published Life, whereas another autho- rity 33 mentions seven years, as the period passed by him in North Britain. 34 During this time, his life was illustrated by miracles. Our saint's nurse is said to have had her hand wounded, through the bite of a poisonous snake. 33 She ran immediately to the holy child, and marked the sign of a cross with his hand, whick was applied to her own. On the instant, a virulent tumour disappeared, and no trace of a wound nor any symptom of inflammation remained.
The uncle of our saint was a bishop, named Blann,36 ixom whom the city of Uumblaine afterwards took its appellation. 37 Havingheard about those wonders of Divine grace, manifested tiirough the child, this pious prelate conceived a great desire to visit his nephew. The bishop was joyfully received by his relative. But, while on this visit, we are told, his horse had been stolen by a
thief. On ofsuch hearing
"This whom boy
the Ihavevisitedmusteitherrestoremyhorse,orprocuremeanother. "3^ Very
soon afterwards, a thief returned the stolen horse, and in a tremulous voice
besought protection frona the boy Laserian. The bishop then inquiring the cause of this demand, the thief declared that the king's soldiers were in pur-
suit of him. Yet, when those who were present went outside, they saw no persons following the robber. 39 Then, learning that such an occurrence was
"
Prehistoric Annals of Scotland," part iv. ,
chap. i. , p. 483.
3* See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," p. 467,
33 The Salamancan Manuscript.
3* The BoUandist Editor remarks, that he
could hardly suppose Laserian had been
placed in a monastery for the purpose of en- gaging at his studies, before the seventeenth
year of his age.
35 This account seems inconsistent with
the fact of his being born in Ireland, as our country had not been infested with venom- ous reptiles at tlie time of his birtli. This incident, however, might have occurred after his fourteenth year. Sucli legend was pro- bably the idle rumour circul. ited regaruiug him, by people in the British Islands, and beyond the Irish Channel.
3' This prelate is commemorated, in our
blaan was his chief city. " In a note. Dr. Todd remarks, that the later et)mon was probably an error of the manuscript for Dun-blaan.
"
tlie gloss in . Marianus also reads Dubblann, while that on /Eiigus has Dun-blaan, a form which is found in many Scotch authorities. Seep. 215, and n.
3' See Daniel Wilson's
Archaeology and
6, ibid.
^7 jn that magnificently and exquisitely il- lustrated work, Billing's "Baronial and
Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Scotland," vol. ii. , Dunblane Cathedral, we read, " That St.
Blane, patron saint of the church, from whom also the diocese and catliedral town derived their name, was a native of the island of Bute, and the descendant of an illustrious Irish house, numbering some of the earlier eccle- siastical dignitaries among its members. " He is said, to have "spent seven years in the land of his ancestors. " Il>id, A further his- toi-y of Dunblane, and five highly linished en- gra\ ings of its noble cathedral, accompany the loregoing account.
38 The Salamancan manuscript intimates, that Blann desired to have experimental
proof regarding his nephew's miraculous
powers.
39 Xhe BoUandist Editor tells us, that in
robbery,
prelate
said
jestingly,
Irish Martyrulogies, at the loth of August,
as Colgan mentions, in the Acts of his mas-
ter, Caddan. In Drs. Todd and Reeves'
edition of the "Martyrology of Donegal," at
the same day, we read, "Blaan, bishop of confugi. " This version, however, is not Ceann-garadh, in Gall Ghaoidhelu. Dub-
Dr. Reeves tells us,
approved by the Editor. He remarks, that Cairrel was not powerful then in Scotland, but rather Adan, the boy's maternal grand- father. He then adds: "nee scimus Cair- rellum pervenisse ad Regnura, licet id filio ejus jure hereditario oblatum, forte per mor- tem proximi consanguine! improUs infra le- gatur. "
the Salamancan Manuscript the reading is varied from that found in the published Life,
as follows "
sequuntur, ideo sub patrocinium filii ejus
: Regis Cairrelli milites nee per-
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 209
intended to demonstrate the boy's sanctity, Bishop Blann gave thanks to God. Afterwards, he returned with the horse, towards his own part of the country. Subsequent to these events, our saint's mother had a vision, in which she was admonished to bring her son to Ireland. In obedience to this mandate, when Laserian returned to his native country, he was committed to the charge of an abbot, named Munnu. *" By another writer, St. Laserian is said to have been the disciple of an abbot, called Murin. *' Under this holy abbot's guardian-
ship, our saint made further proficiency in learning and piety. He grew up inwisdom,age,andgrace,beforethesightofGodandman. Amillbelong-
ing to the monastery was stopped, during summer time, through the want of
water; but,knowingthesanctityofhisyouthfuldisciple,theabbotordered
him to go out from his cell, and to bore ground, lying near the mill-stream,
withtheendofastaff. Agreatandcopiousstreamofwaterbegantoflow,on
theinstant. Whenthismiraclewasknownamonghismonasticbrethren,they
joyfullyexclaimed "FluminisimpetuslastificatcivitatemDei. "*"Wearein- :
formed, that certain pirates made an incursion upon that country, immedi- ately adjoining the monastery, in which young St. Laserian spent his night at
prayer. He besought the Almighty to interpose Divine protection, against the consequences of such nocturnal aggression. When morning dawned, the plain around the monastery seemed filled with armed soldiers. Hereupon, the pirates, stnick with a panic, fled for safety to their vessels. <3 Some travellers
• weredespoiledoftheirproperty,byrobbers but,soonafterwards,thelatter
quarrelledamongthemselves,regardingthedistributionoftheirbooty. This dispute came to blows, and the thieves are said to have killed one another, on the spot. Whereupon, the travellers not only recovered their own but even came into possession of the robbers' property. Those travellers then pursuedtheirjourney,afterthankingLaserianforhiskindofiices. '** Sodoes the Almighty usually afford protection to those, who trust in His Divine power.
CHAPTER II.
HIS CLANSMEN DESIRE TO ELECT ST. LASERIAN AS THEIR KING—HE REFUSES, AND RETIRES TO A DISTANT ISLAND—THENCE HE PROCEEDS TO ROME—HE STUDIES UNDER POPE Gregory's supervision, is ordained, and then he returns to IRELAND— HE IS JOINED BY A BAND t)F FOREIGN DISCIPLES, BEFORE HIS MISSIONARY CAREER COMMENCES—ST. LASERIAN SELECTS OLD LEIGHLIN, AS A SITE FOR HIS MO. NASTERY—THE POPULAR TRADITION REGARDING HIS APPROACH TO THAT PLACE—A MIRACLE COMMEMORATED, BY THE ERECTION OF A CROSS AT OLD LEIGHLIN—ST. COBBAN RESIGNS THIS PLACE TO ST. LASERIAN—THE LATTER COMMENCES HIS MISSION, IN FULFILMENT OF THE GREAT IRISH APOSTLe's PRO- PHECY—MEETING OF ST. LASERIAN AND OF ST. BARR—THE CROSS AND WELL RE- MAINING AT OLD LEIGHLIN—ST. I. ASERIAK's BOUNTIFUL ACTS—OTHER STATEMENTS REGARDING LASERIAN—SAID TO HAVE BEEN CONSECRATED BISHOP, BY POPE HONORIUS THE FIRST, AND TO HAVE BEEN CREATED PAPAL LEGATE—LEGENDARY NARRATIVE—RECORDED MIRACLES OF OUR SAINT.
WEknow not, whether our saint was an only son, or the eldest of many
children. when his for wisdom and virtue had ex- But, reputation
tended far and wide, and after it was known, that his youthful years were not
*" Papebroke informs us, that in the Sala- about A. D. 634. He was a man of great
mancan Manuscript, this abbot is also called sanctity. According to the Martyrolo^y of Mundo, without a designation of Abbot Tallagh, at the 21st of October, Munnu is
affixed to his name. He refers us to Colgan, who, in treating the Acts of Abbot Foilan,
at the gtli of January, speaks of a . St. Mun- dus, son toTulchan, wlm flourished in Ire- land, abou^ the year 626, and who died
said to have presided over 234 disciples. The saint, mentioned in the text, is thought by Papebroke, to have been identical with . St. Fintan Munnu, whose Acts were to be in- serted, at the 2lst of October. This saint,
O
310 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i8.
spent in folly or crime, the people of his own patrimonial district assembled, and unanimously they elected him for their king. The holy young man, how-
ever,refusedthisprofferedsceptre; histhoughtfulambitionbeingdirected, towards a more lasting inheritance. To avoid further importunity, he with- drew, to a remote island, situated in the sea, and lying between Albania and Britain. " Here, according to one account, St. Laserian led an eremitical life, which was rendered ilhistrious, by the miracles he wrought. Beloved by God, and enjoying a high repute for sanctity, he merited unbounded admira- tion, from those islanders among whom he dwelt. " In our saint's Acts, we are told, that when he had remained for some length of time at this place, he felt a great desire to perfect himself, in learning and science. For that purpose,
hesetoutonajourney,towardsthecityoftheApostolicSee. Hecontinued in Rome, it is stated, for fourteen years,' receiving instruction from Pope Gre- gory of happy memory. •• During such time as he remained there, his facul- ties were incessantly applied to the study of the Old and the New Testament, andtotheinstitutesofCanonLaw. s AHthisacquiredknowledge,hecare- fullytreasuredwithinhismemory. TheholyPontiff,seeingtheprogresshis Irish disciple daily made, in learning and sanctity, conferred the Diaconate on him. Soon after, he was promoted to the priesthood. * Having been advanced to this latter sublime grade, Laserian received his commission, to
preach God's holy word in Ireland. '
we are told, became a monk at lona Island, under the discipline of St. Columba, after
the year 563. In the year 631, when greatly advanced in years, with other venerable men, he opposed St. Laserian's adoption of the Roman Paschal rite in Ireland.
*' Such is the account I find, in Ryan's
In token of esteem for his pupil, St.
Gregory was Pope for the former length of time, or for some other unexplained reason. If it be true, as related, that Laserian had been ordained priest by this Pope, and sent to Ireland on a mission, St. Laserian could not have remained in Rome much longer than four years. It would appear, he did not
visit the Eternal until about the close City,
of the sixth century. Pope Gregory began his pontificate, in the year 590, and he died, soon after the commencement of the seventh
" and History
of the
County Carlow," chap, ii. , p. 25. Yet, no authority is furnished for this statement, although he
probably found it in Harris' Ware.
*' " The stream of the river maketh the
city of God joyful," Psalms xlv. 5.
<3 In the Salamancan Manuscript, these circumstances are somewhat differently re-
lated.
** From the Salamancan Manuscript, it
would appear, these travellers were under
our saint's — protection.
Chapter
Scotise adnumerantur. "
" See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap-
Annals of even the most remote of the 3, 4, 5, 6, nn. (d, e, f, g, h, i, k, 1, ni), pp. western nations—the Irish—the lives of their
saints abound in notices of the holy pilgrims who journeyed from that remote corner ofthe earth tothe tombs of the Apostles. One of the first purposes, to which we find a respite from the inroads of the Danes converted in the ninth century, is to send an embassy from the Irish princes, toobtain from Charles the Bald a free and secure passage through
Antiquities
'Tlie Bollandist Editor is at a loss to know, whether this was a sandy island in Dunbrittan Strait, or the Isle of Man. Papebroke says, he preferred adopting the first opinion, and that the name of Bi i- tain must have had a greater extension than England proper could now indicate, adding, "ut ad Clutam usque includat ea qu:e nunc
lib. xxxii. , sect, xliv. ,
ii.
p.
rilis xviii. Vita S. Lasreani, cap. i. , sect. 2,
544, 545-
3 See Ryan s History and Antiquities of
. . ",
the County Carlow," chap, ii. , p. 25.
* The Salamancan Manuscript does not give the exact time of our saint's stay in the Eternal City, and the Bollandist Editor is of " had been either because St.
that " substituted for "
quatuordectm quatuor,"
opinion,
century—viz. ,
604. See the Acts of
in A. n.
this great Pontiff, in Rohrbacher's
"
Histoire
Univeiselle de I'Eglise Catholique," tome ix. , liv, xlvii.
5 For further illustration, in reference to
this Iri. 'h practice of m. iking Roman pil- grimages, the reader is referred to MabiUon's
"
626, for an account of Marcus, a bishop, and Marcellus, his nephew, with other Irish pilgrims, stopping
at St. Gall's monastery on returning from Rome.
'
See Very Rev. Monsignore Moran's "Essays on the Origin. Doctrines, and Dis- cipline of the Early Irish Church," part iii. ,
chap, iii. , p. 141.
' Dr. Miley writes in these terms : "The
. \nnales Ordinis S. Benedicli," tomus ii. ,
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 211
Gregory bestowed on this saint the text of Gospels, and dismissed him, with apapalbenediction. * WhilethesaintwasonhiswaytoIreland,anumer- ous band of illustrious men, Angles, Britons, and Scots, joined him. 9 These most earnestly desired, to have the benefit of his example and society.
After our saint had returned to his. native country, he preached the Gospel there, in many places. Through Divine inspiration, he came at length to that spot, where the city of Leighlin afterwards sprung up, and where a monastery then stood. Gobban, a man celebrated for his sanctity, is said to have founded it about this time. '" He was Abbot over this house, and he preached on the banks of the Barrow. " He went to meet St. Laserian, and cordially gave himwelcome,onhisarrival. Accordingtolocaltradition,"onhisapproach to Old Leighlin, St. Laserian rested on Lorum hill, near Bagnalstown, in the county of Carlow. 'J Here, he intended to found an establishment, and a more delightful site, it could have hardly been possible to select. But his path was there crossed, by a red-haired woman; and, the Irish peasantry have ever regarded such an apparition, as indicating reversal or misadventure of every preconceived project. To others, we leave the solution of such a super- stition, or its mystic meaning. St. Laserian happened to be on his knees, engaged in prayer, at this time. Suddenly, he heard an Angel's voice, sweetly proclaiming from heaven, " Go where you shall see the sun first shining, and there shall your religious house be established. " Accordingly, he crossed the River Barrow, and he travelled, in the direction of Old Leighlin. When he arrived at this spot, a glorious burst of sunshine lighted up the whole
his dominions for the Irish pilgrims to
Rome. In an unpublished Irish Manuscript, called the ' Leabhar Breac ' —a collection
The Bollandist Editor thus sums up the chronology of our saint's life. Laserian is thought to have been about twelve or four- teen years of age, when brought to Albania by his grandsire, and therefore it is inferred', he was bom about A. D. 566. In the Island of lona, our saint is supposed to have had St. Fintan Muiinu, as his m. ister. This pre- ceptor is reputed to have set out from Ireland for lona, soon after St. Columba's depar- ture, and about the year 563. We are not informed, how long St. L<iserian remained under this master, nor what length oftime he spent in the desert, l)efore his first visit to Rome, where St. Gregory's esteem was manifested, in sending him to preach the (lospel, after a delay of four years. The Editor incidentally remarks: "annos qua- tuordecim perperam habet MS. " Papebroke asserts, that Laserian had been ordained deacon and priest, about his thirty-third year, and then he was judged worthy to re:eive the Apostolic gifts and a cure of souls. His years, it is supposed, were still more ad- vanced, when St. Goban resigned Leighlin to him, perhaps about A. O. 614, or even at a later period. See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Aprilis xviii. Vita S. Lasreani Commentarius Prsevius, sec. $, p. 544.
» The Bollandist Editor appends the fol- lowing note to this account. It is taken from
of singula! importance and interest in an
per Angliam et Britanniam, adjungunt se ei, historical point of view—there are a great etc. , de An^lis vereor nt sit, ab An^lo auc-
tore : namcumhisnihildumcom- adjtctum
mune habebant Britones Scotique, sed eos ut
many
History
Papal
' ^^
Ryan's History and Antiquities of the County of Carlow," chip, ii. , p. 23. I'his writer, without any authority whatever, sajrs in 616, relying apparently on a date of Archdall, havin^j nothing in common with his statement ; while even in the dale, Arch- dall is incorrect, regarding the matter to which it refers.
" He " saw in vision a host of angels hovering over Leighlin, and announced to his disciples that one day a fervent stranger
would gather together in th. it spot as many servants of God—as there were angels in that heavenly host. " Dr. Moran's "Essays on the Origin, Doctrine, and Discipline of the Early Irish Church," part iii. , chap, iii. , p. 141.
" This account was conveyed to us, by an
inhabitant of Old Leighlin, while kindly dis-
charging the self-imposed office of guide and raconteur, on the occasion of a visit made to the locality in 1869, by the learned and re- spected President of Carlow College, the Editor of its Magazine, and the writer of this article.
' Lorum, called Lowran, by William Wenman Seward, is represented as being but a poor place, with as poor a church. It lies, within a mile of Ballylaughan Castle,
suchnotices. "—"
ofthe States," vol. i. , Book ii. , chap, iv. , pp. 462,
the Salamancan MS.
:
" Cumque tmnsiret
hostes capitalissimos oderant. '° "
"
212 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i8.
entourage of exquisite scenery. Then, venerable oak trees covered the Idrone upper ridges and mountain tarns, west of the Barrow. Laserian's eyes ranged
with pleasurable admiration, over this charming prospect. He next sought an interview with the chieftain, who ruled that beautiful and fertile district.
St. Gobban'* had already established his monastery or cell, near the corner of an old masonry enclosure, yet pointed out, and called " the Bishop's Gar-
den. " It rises, near the left bank of that rivulet, flowing past Old Leighlin. But, whether it were, that the chief wished to confer a special favour on St. Gobban, already an inhabitant of his territory, or that he conceived one mo- nastic house in the neighbourhood sufficient, St. Laserian's request for a small tract of his land was rather coldly received. However, not choosing to give the holy man a direct refusal, the dynast told him, at last, only one spot was available, and this was a lough, formed immediately above St. Gobban's cell, and resting within a rather deep glen. Gladly receiving the grant, and then courteously thanking the chief, Laserian spread his cloak over the pool, when its waters sank to a lower level, and almost disappeared, in the clefts of their ravine. Afterwards, his monks opened a duct, by quarrying through some rocks, which still impeded the stream's freer course. On the left bank then remained a suitable plateau, for our saint's purposes ; and, here, at the pre- sent time, may be seen the modernized Protestant church, with its old and venerable Catholic square belfry, towering above the circumjacent burial ground. So runs popular tradition ; and, were we desirous of concealing long- remembered lore, culled from the peasant's fire-side, St. Laserian's biography could hardly be considered as complete, or even as properly illustrated.
It appears, that the site of Old Leighlin had been marked out for habitation,
by religious men, long before St. Laserian resolved on taking possession. We are not able to determine the exact time, when St. Gobban "s built his monastery, on that place, where he saw in vision a host of Angels chanting God's praises ;'' but, it was probably early in the seventh century. Laserian's old church there was possibly an addition to the monastic establishment, firsterectedbySt. Gobban. Wecanscarcelydoubt,thattheoriginalbuild- ings were greatly extended, when St. Laserian had been recognised in the doublecapacityofBishopandAbbot. \Vehaveanotherinterestingrecord.
However, we are told, that in 1795, the i8th of April, being the patron day of St. Laze-
rianus, or Laserian, was specially celebrated. The same author states, our saint was here
"
interred. See
sub-voce. But, in 1833, Ryan says, no patron was then held at this spot, nor was there any memorial whatever of St. Laserian in the
"" Indeed," he adds, there
Leighlin. Notices of him may be seen, at that date.
'S Papebroke has observed, that when treatingaboutSt. GobanDairensis,atthe26th of March, Colgan suspects, without any just reason, this latter person was identical with the Abbot of Leighlin. Papebroke himself conjectures, it should be nearer truth to sup- pose, that the Goban, in his text, was iden- tical with that celebrated father of a thou- sandmonks. Thusishealludedto,inthe
Calendar of Cashel, at the 6th of December :
S. Gob. inus de Killamruidhe juxta mon-
tem Sliab-na-mag-fionn elictum, in Ossoria. " The Editor adds: ''quo scilicet mip-averit
Lithglimtcnsem locum relinquens Lasreano, versus Austrum el Muinonia confinia rece- liendo. "
" See the " Irish Ecclesiastcal Record,"
The
Topographia Hibernia,"
chuvchyard.
can be no doubt, that he was not buried here,
but at Old Leighlin.
"
See "History and An-
tiquities of the County of Carlow," ch. ip. ""
xxxi. , p. 348. On the Ordnance Survey
"
Townland Maps for the County of Carlow (sheet 19), Lorum Church, '"in ruins," is marked on an elevated site. A little distance to the west, St. Molappoge's Well is noted. It
is probable, this must have been originally pronounced St. Molaissi's Well.
y Perhaps, this was the St. Gobban, who is venerated in our Irish Calendars, at the 23rd of May, as belonging to Tigh Scuithin,
identified by Mr. John Hogan, of Kilkenny, . with the present Tascofiin, not far from Old
old series, vol. ii. , September, 1866. mediaeval history,
See of Leighlin, at p. 544. This article
contains an interesting account of Leighlin's
.
Ossory.
place
venerated,
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 313
in connection with this spot, which it would seem had been purpled with the blood of Blessed Mael Patrick, a priest andan anchorite, Blessed Mongan, ano-
ther anchorite, and his companions, who suffered martyrdom, in a. d. 916. '' Our holy faith had not been fully planted in Ireland, until what Tertullian has denominated "the martyrs' blood, the seed of Christians,'* watered her soil, and cemented the foundations of her growing Church.
Many and great are the privileges acquired and exercised, by God's holy
It is related, that when St. Laserian and Abbot Goban came to the monastery gate, both met a woman, bearing in her arms the head of her son. This young man had been killed by robbers. The afflicted mother earnestly besought Laserian, in God's name, that her son miglit be restored to life. Her faith was rewarded, by the working of a miracle ; for, no sooner had the head been joined to its lifeless body, than the young man was again restored to his mother. This favour he chiefly owed, to the pious interven- tion of our saint We are informed, in St. Laserian's Acts, that a cross was afterwards erected on the spot, where such miraculous occurrence took place.
"
worshippers.
The locality received, also, the Irish name Kroken, which means the ofthe head. ""'
cross
Such was the esteem, in which St. Laserian's virtues were held, that holy
Abbot Goban resigned for ever the government of Leighlin monastery, in favour of its future patron. It has been suggested,"" that St—. Goban was no other, than he who governed a church at KiU-Lamhruidhe "' now Killamery
parish "—
in the west of
A
St. Goban Finn of this
is
at the 6th of December, and he is said to have been buried, in Clonenagh. "^ However this may be, Goban and his brethren, leaving Old Leighlin, founded areligioushabitation,inadifferentpartofthecountry. Thetasknowcom- mitted to St. Laserian was faithfully and zealously discharged. A religious people were greatly edified, by his preaching without the walls of his monas- tery, while the grace of Divine wisdom descended, in a copious shower, on the hearts of his numerous community. '* Then was fulfilled a reputed prophecy of the great Irish apostle, regarding Laserian. For, when the holy prelate, St. Patrick,»5 had been engaged on the work of his mission, he journeyed along a road, which led through that lovely valley, in which Leighlin was
situated. Hethenstoodonaspot,beyondtheRiverBarrow,whilehelooked towards the site of the monastery, afterwards to be erected. '* St Patrick then
' See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the even mention liis name in the page referred Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 592, 593. The to. "—Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His-
year 616 is incorrectly set down, by Colgan's printer, so that many modem writers have been led astray, regarding the date for this transaction.
'
His words —are :
Christianorum. " "Apologia," sect. 45, sub fin.
'»In the Salamancan MS. , we have no
account, regarding the circumstance of this
cross having been erected. '° "
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xv. , sec. ix. , n. 62, p. 404.
'* It is related, in the Acts of St. Laserian, that he had no less than fifteen hundred dis-
virtues diffused
such fragrant odour, through all parts of Ireland, that those, it is said, who "in eorum odore unguentorum currentcs inter- nam mererentur hortura introire delicia- rum. "
=5 In his Life, at the 17th of March, it must be observed, we have no notice thereof this record.
See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise.
"
Gentis Anglorum," lib. i. , cap. xxxiv. The p. 544.
king himself escaped. Being deeply afflicted, however, at the result of his expedition, he died of grief about two years afterwards, at Kentyre, after having attained nearly his
'' In the Salamancan Manuscript.
* See Rev. John Cunningham's "Church History of Scotland," vol. i. , chap, iii. , p. 54.
ever been entombed. See Fordun's Chronicon," vol. i. , lib. iii. , cap. xxxviii,
lico. See vol. i. , part 1. , p. 229. "* "
Scoti-
2o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i8.
other primitive missionaries had preceded him and had shared in the good work:. 3' TheBbllandistssuppose,tliatwhentheboywasabouttwelveorfour- teen years of age, his mother brought him over to Albyn. In Scotland, also,
St. Molassi, or Laisrin, was greatly venerated. 3^ There his grandfather lived. This likewise is called his natal country, in the old Life, although it is quite evident from the context, that our saint was born in Ireland. Other contra- dictory accounts are found in his Acts. Thus, Laserian is said to have spent four years in Scotland, according to the published Life, whereas another autho- rity 33 mentions seven years, as the period passed by him in North Britain. 34 During this time, his life was illustrated by miracles. Our saint's nurse is said to have had her hand wounded, through the bite of a poisonous snake. 33 She ran immediately to the holy child, and marked the sign of a cross with his hand, whick was applied to her own. On the instant, a virulent tumour disappeared, and no trace of a wound nor any symptom of inflammation remained.
The uncle of our saint was a bishop, named Blann,36 ixom whom the city of Uumblaine afterwards took its appellation. 37 Havingheard about those wonders of Divine grace, manifested tiirough the child, this pious prelate conceived a great desire to visit his nephew. The bishop was joyfully received by his relative. But, while on this visit, we are told, his horse had been stolen by a
thief. On ofsuch hearing
"This whom boy
the Ihavevisitedmusteitherrestoremyhorse,orprocuremeanother. "3^ Very
soon afterwards, a thief returned the stolen horse, and in a tremulous voice
besought protection frona the boy Laserian. The bishop then inquiring the cause of this demand, the thief declared that the king's soldiers were in pur-
suit of him. Yet, when those who were present went outside, they saw no persons following the robber. 39 Then, learning that such an occurrence was
"
Prehistoric Annals of Scotland," part iv. ,
chap. i. , p. 483.
3* See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," p. 467,
33 The Salamancan Manuscript.
3* The BoUandist Editor remarks, that he
could hardly suppose Laserian had been
placed in a monastery for the purpose of en- gaging at his studies, before the seventeenth
year of his age.
35 This account seems inconsistent with
the fact of his being born in Ireland, as our country had not been infested with venom- ous reptiles at tlie time of his birtli. This incident, however, might have occurred after his fourteenth year. Sucli legend was pro- bably the idle rumour circul. ited regaruiug him, by people in the British Islands, and beyond the Irish Channel.
3' This prelate is commemorated, in our
blaan was his chief city. " In a note. Dr. Todd remarks, that the later et)mon was probably an error of the manuscript for Dun-blaan.
"
tlie gloss in . Marianus also reads Dubblann, while that on /Eiigus has Dun-blaan, a form which is found in many Scotch authorities. Seep. 215, and n.
3' See Daniel Wilson's
Archaeology and
6, ibid.
^7 jn that magnificently and exquisitely il- lustrated work, Billing's "Baronial and
Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Scotland," vol. ii. , Dunblane Cathedral, we read, " That St.
Blane, patron saint of the church, from whom also the diocese and catliedral town derived their name, was a native of the island of Bute, and the descendant of an illustrious Irish house, numbering some of the earlier eccle- siastical dignitaries among its members. " He is said, to have "spent seven years in the land of his ancestors. " Il>id, A further his- toi-y of Dunblane, and five highly linished en- gra\ ings of its noble cathedral, accompany the loregoing account.
38 The Salamancan manuscript intimates, that Blann desired to have experimental
proof regarding his nephew's miraculous
powers.
39 Xhe BoUandist Editor tells us, that in
robbery,
prelate
said
jestingly,
Irish Martyrulogies, at the loth of August,
as Colgan mentions, in the Acts of his mas-
ter, Caddan. In Drs. Todd and Reeves'
edition of the "Martyrology of Donegal," at
the same day, we read, "Blaan, bishop of confugi. " This version, however, is not Ceann-garadh, in Gall Ghaoidhelu. Dub-
Dr. Reeves tells us,
approved by the Editor. He remarks, that Cairrel was not powerful then in Scotland, but rather Adan, the boy's maternal grand- father. He then adds: "nee scimus Cair- rellum pervenisse ad Regnura, licet id filio ejus jure hereditario oblatum, forte per mor- tem proximi consanguine! improUs infra le- gatur. "
the Salamancan Manuscript the reading is varied from that found in the published Life,
as follows "
sequuntur, ideo sub patrocinium filii ejus
: Regis Cairrelli milites nee per-
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 209
intended to demonstrate the boy's sanctity, Bishop Blann gave thanks to God. Afterwards, he returned with the horse, towards his own part of the country. Subsequent to these events, our saint's mother had a vision, in which she was admonished to bring her son to Ireland. In obedience to this mandate, when Laserian returned to his native country, he was committed to the charge of an abbot, named Munnu. *" By another writer, St. Laserian is said to have been the disciple of an abbot, called Murin. *' Under this holy abbot's guardian-
ship, our saint made further proficiency in learning and piety. He grew up inwisdom,age,andgrace,beforethesightofGodandman. Amillbelong-
ing to the monastery was stopped, during summer time, through the want of
water; but,knowingthesanctityofhisyouthfuldisciple,theabbotordered
him to go out from his cell, and to bore ground, lying near the mill-stream,
withtheendofastaff. Agreatandcopiousstreamofwaterbegantoflow,on
theinstant. Whenthismiraclewasknownamonghismonasticbrethren,they
joyfullyexclaimed "FluminisimpetuslastificatcivitatemDei. "*"Wearein- :
formed, that certain pirates made an incursion upon that country, immedi- ately adjoining the monastery, in which young St. Laserian spent his night at
prayer. He besought the Almighty to interpose Divine protection, against the consequences of such nocturnal aggression. When morning dawned, the plain around the monastery seemed filled with armed soldiers. Hereupon, the pirates, stnick with a panic, fled for safety to their vessels. <3 Some travellers
• weredespoiledoftheirproperty,byrobbers but,soonafterwards,thelatter
quarrelledamongthemselves,regardingthedistributionoftheirbooty. This dispute came to blows, and the thieves are said to have killed one another, on the spot. Whereupon, the travellers not only recovered their own but even came into possession of the robbers' property. Those travellers then pursuedtheirjourney,afterthankingLaserianforhiskindofiices. '** Sodoes the Almighty usually afford protection to those, who trust in His Divine power.
CHAPTER II.
HIS CLANSMEN DESIRE TO ELECT ST. LASERIAN AS THEIR KING—HE REFUSES, AND RETIRES TO A DISTANT ISLAND—THENCE HE PROCEEDS TO ROME—HE STUDIES UNDER POPE Gregory's supervision, is ordained, and then he returns to IRELAND— HE IS JOINED BY A BAND t)F FOREIGN DISCIPLES, BEFORE HIS MISSIONARY CAREER COMMENCES—ST. LASERIAN SELECTS OLD LEIGHLIN, AS A SITE FOR HIS MO. NASTERY—THE POPULAR TRADITION REGARDING HIS APPROACH TO THAT PLACE—A MIRACLE COMMEMORATED, BY THE ERECTION OF A CROSS AT OLD LEIGHLIN—ST. COBBAN RESIGNS THIS PLACE TO ST. LASERIAN—THE LATTER COMMENCES HIS MISSION, IN FULFILMENT OF THE GREAT IRISH APOSTLe's PRO- PHECY—MEETING OF ST. LASERIAN AND OF ST. BARR—THE CROSS AND WELL RE- MAINING AT OLD LEIGHLIN—ST. I. ASERIAK's BOUNTIFUL ACTS—OTHER STATEMENTS REGARDING LASERIAN—SAID TO HAVE BEEN CONSECRATED BISHOP, BY POPE HONORIUS THE FIRST, AND TO HAVE BEEN CREATED PAPAL LEGATE—LEGENDARY NARRATIVE—RECORDED MIRACLES OF OUR SAINT.
WEknow not, whether our saint was an only son, or the eldest of many
children. when his for wisdom and virtue had ex- But, reputation
tended far and wide, and after it was known, that his youthful years were not
*" Papebroke informs us, that in the Sala- about A. D. 634. He was a man of great
mancan Manuscript, this abbot is also called sanctity. According to the Martyrolo^y of Mundo, without a designation of Abbot Tallagh, at the 21st of October, Munnu is
affixed to his name. He refers us to Colgan, who, in treating the Acts of Abbot Foilan,
at the gtli of January, speaks of a . St. Mun- dus, son toTulchan, wlm flourished in Ire- land, abou^ the year 626, and who died
said to have presided over 234 disciples. The saint, mentioned in the text, is thought by Papebroke, to have been identical with . St. Fintan Munnu, whose Acts were to be in- serted, at the 2lst of October. This saint,
O
310 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i8.
spent in folly or crime, the people of his own patrimonial district assembled, and unanimously they elected him for their king. The holy young man, how-
ever,refusedthisprofferedsceptre; histhoughtfulambitionbeingdirected, towards a more lasting inheritance. To avoid further importunity, he with- drew, to a remote island, situated in the sea, and lying between Albania and Britain. " Here, according to one account, St. Laserian led an eremitical life, which was rendered ilhistrious, by the miracles he wrought. Beloved by God, and enjoying a high repute for sanctity, he merited unbounded admira- tion, from those islanders among whom he dwelt. " In our saint's Acts, we are told, that when he had remained for some length of time at this place, he felt a great desire to perfect himself, in learning and science. For that purpose,
hesetoutonajourney,towardsthecityoftheApostolicSee. Hecontinued in Rome, it is stated, for fourteen years,' receiving instruction from Pope Gre- gory of happy memory. •• During such time as he remained there, his facul- ties were incessantly applied to the study of the Old and the New Testament, andtotheinstitutesofCanonLaw. s AHthisacquiredknowledge,hecare- fullytreasuredwithinhismemory. TheholyPontiff,seeingtheprogresshis Irish disciple daily made, in learning and sanctity, conferred the Diaconate on him. Soon after, he was promoted to the priesthood. * Having been advanced to this latter sublime grade, Laserian received his commission, to
preach God's holy word in Ireland. '
we are told, became a monk at lona Island, under the discipline of St. Columba, after
the year 563. In the year 631, when greatly advanced in years, with other venerable men, he opposed St. Laserian's adoption of the Roman Paschal rite in Ireland.
*' Such is the account I find, in Ryan's
In token of esteem for his pupil, St.
Gregory was Pope for the former length of time, or for some other unexplained reason. If it be true, as related, that Laserian had been ordained priest by this Pope, and sent to Ireland on a mission, St. Laserian could not have remained in Rome much longer than four years. It would appear, he did not
visit the Eternal until about the close City,
of the sixth century. Pope Gregory began his pontificate, in the year 590, and he died, soon after the commencement of the seventh
" and History
of the
County Carlow," chap, ii. , p. 25. Yet, no authority is furnished for this statement, although he
probably found it in Harris' Ware.
*' " The stream of the river maketh the
city of God joyful," Psalms xlv. 5.
<3 In the Salamancan Manuscript, these circumstances are somewhat differently re-
lated.
** From the Salamancan Manuscript, it
would appear, these travellers were under
our saint's — protection.
Chapter
Scotise adnumerantur. "
" See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap-
Annals of even the most remote of the 3, 4, 5, 6, nn. (d, e, f, g, h, i, k, 1, ni), pp. western nations—the Irish—the lives of their
saints abound in notices of the holy pilgrims who journeyed from that remote corner ofthe earth tothe tombs of the Apostles. One of the first purposes, to which we find a respite from the inroads of the Danes converted in the ninth century, is to send an embassy from the Irish princes, toobtain from Charles the Bald a free and secure passage through
Antiquities
'Tlie Bollandist Editor is at a loss to know, whether this was a sandy island in Dunbrittan Strait, or the Isle of Man. Papebroke says, he preferred adopting the first opinion, and that the name of Bi i- tain must have had a greater extension than England proper could now indicate, adding, "ut ad Clutam usque includat ea qu:e nunc
lib. xxxii. , sect, xliv. ,
ii.
p.
rilis xviii. Vita S. Lasreani, cap. i. , sect. 2,
544, 545-
3 See Ryan s History and Antiquities of
. . ",
the County Carlow," chap, ii. , p. 25.
* The Salamancan Manuscript does not give the exact time of our saint's stay in the Eternal City, and the Bollandist Editor is of " had been either because St.
that " substituted for "
quatuordectm quatuor,"
opinion,
century—viz. ,
604. See the Acts of
in A. n.
this great Pontiff, in Rohrbacher's
"
Histoire
Univeiselle de I'Eglise Catholique," tome ix. , liv, xlvii.
5 For further illustration, in reference to
this Iri. 'h practice of m. iking Roman pil- grimages, the reader is referred to MabiUon's
"
626, for an account of Marcus, a bishop, and Marcellus, his nephew, with other Irish pilgrims, stopping
at St. Gall's monastery on returning from Rome.
'
See Very Rev. Monsignore Moran's "Essays on the Origin. Doctrines, and Dis- cipline of the Early Irish Church," part iii. ,
chap, iii. , p. 141.
' Dr. Miley writes in these terms : "The
. \nnales Ordinis S. Benedicli," tomus ii. ,
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 211
Gregory bestowed on this saint the text of Gospels, and dismissed him, with apapalbenediction. * WhilethesaintwasonhiswaytoIreland,anumer- ous band of illustrious men, Angles, Britons, and Scots, joined him. 9 These most earnestly desired, to have the benefit of his example and society.
After our saint had returned to his. native country, he preached the Gospel there, in many places. Through Divine inspiration, he came at length to that spot, where the city of Leighlin afterwards sprung up, and where a monastery then stood. Gobban, a man celebrated for his sanctity, is said to have founded it about this time. '" He was Abbot over this house, and he preached on the banks of the Barrow. " He went to meet St. Laserian, and cordially gave himwelcome,onhisarrival. Accordingtolocaltradition,"onhisapproach to Old Leighlin, St. Laserian rested on Lorum hill, near Bagnalstown, in the county of Carlow. 'J Here, he intended to found an establishment, and a more delightful site, it could have hardly been possible to select. But his path was there crossed, by a red-haired woman; and, the Irish peasantry have ever regarded such an apparition, as indicating reversal or misadventure of every preconceived project. To others, we leave the solution of such a super- stition, or its mystic meaning. St. Laserian happened to be on his knees, engaged in prayer, at this time. Suddenly, he heard an Angel's voice, sweetly proclaiming from heaven, " Go where you shall see the sun first shining, and there shall your religious house be established. " Accordingly, he crossed the River Barrow, and he travelled, in the direction of Old Leighlin. When he arrived at this spot, a glorious burst of sunshine lighted up the whole
his dominions for the Irish pilgrims to
Rome. In an unpublished Irish Manuscript, called the ' Leabhar Breac ' —a collection
The Bollandist Editor thus sums up the chronology of our saint's life. Laserian is thought to have been about twelve or four- teen years of age, when brought to Albania by his grandsire, and therefore it is inferred', he was bom about A. D. 566. In the Island of lona, our saint is supposed to have had St. Fintan Muiinu, as his m. ister. This pre- ceptor is reputed to have set out from Ireland for lona, soon after St. Columba's depar- ture, and about the year 563. We are not informed, how long St. L<iserian remained under this master, nor what length oftime he spent in the desert, l)efore his first visit to Rome, where St. Gregory's esteem was manifested, in sending him to preach the (lospel, after a delay of four years. The Editor incidentally remarks: "annos qua- tuordecim perperam habet MS. " Papebroke asserts, that Laserian had been ordained deacon and priest, about his thirty-third year, and then he was judged worthy to re:eive the Apostolic gifts and a cure of souls. His years, it is supposed, were still more ad- vanced, when St. Goban resigned Leighlin to him, perhaps about A. O. 614, or even at a later period. See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Aprilis xviii. Vita S. Lasreani Commentarius Prsevius, sec. $, p. 544.
» The Bollandist Editor appends the fol- lowing note to this account. It is taken from
of singula! importance and interest in an
per Angliam et Britanniam, adjungunt se ei, historical point of view—there are a great etc. , de An^lis vereor nt sit, ab An^lo auc-
tore : namcumhisnihildumcom- adjtctum
mune habebant Britones Scotique, sed eos ut
many
History
Papal
' ^^
Ryan's History and Antiquities of the County of Carlow," chip, ii. , p. 23. I'his writer, without any authority whatever, sajrs in 616, relying apparently on a date of Archdall, havin^j nothing in common with his statement ; while even in the dale, Arch- dall is incorrect, regarding the matter to which it refers.
" He " saw in vision a host of angels hovering over Leighlin, and announced to his disciples that one day a fervent stranger
would gather together in th. it spot as many servants of God—as there were angels in that heavenly host. " Dr. Moran's "Essays on the Origin, Doctrine, and Discipline of the Early Irish Church," part iii. , chap, iii. , p. 141.
" This account was conveyed to us, by an
inhabitant of Old Leighlin, while kindly dis-
charging the self-imposed office of guide and raconteur, on the occasion of a visit made to the locality in 1869, by the learned and re- spected President of Carlow College, the Editor of its Magazine, and the writer of this article.
' Lorum, called Lowran, by William Wenman Seward, is represented as being but a poor place, with as poor a church. It lies, within a mile of Ballylaughan Castle,
suchnotices. "—"
ofthe States," vol. i. , Book ii. , chap, iv. , pp. 462,
the Salamancan MS.
:
" Cumque tmnsiret
hostes capitalissimos oderant. '° "
"
212 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i8.
entourage of exquisite scenery. Then, venerable oak trees covered the Idrone upper ridges and mountain tarns, west of the Barrow. Laserian's eyes ranged
with pleasurable admiration, over this charming prospect. He next sought an interview with the chieftain, who ruled that beautiful and fertile district.
St. Gobban'* had already established his monastery or cell, near the corner of an old masonry enclosure, yet pointed out, and called " the Bishop's Gar-
den. " It rises, near the left bank of that rivulet, flowing past Old Leighlin. But, whether it were, that the chief wished to confer a special favour on St. Gobban, already an inhabitant of his territory, or that he conceived one mo- nastic house in the neighbourhood sufficient, St. Laserian's request for a small tract of his land was rather coldly received. However, not choosing to give the holy man a direct refusal, the dynast told him, at last, only one spot was available, and this was a lough, formed immediately above St. Gobban's cell, and resting within a rather deep glen. Gladly receiving the grant, and then courteously thanking the chief, Laserian spread his cloak over the pool, when its waters sank to a lower level, and almost disappeared, in the clefts of their ravine. Afterwards, his monks opened a duct, by quarrying through some rocks, which still impeded the stream's freer course. On the left bank then remained a suitable plateau, for our saint's purposes ; and, here, at the pre- sent time, may be seen the modernized Protestant church, with its old and venerable Catholic square belfry, towering above the circumjacent burial ground. So runs popular tradition ; and, were we desirous of concealing long- remembered lore, culled from the peasant's fire-side, St. Laserian's biography could hardly be considered as complete, or even as properly illustrated.
It appears, that the site of Old Leighlin had been marked out for habitation,
by religious men, long before St. Laserian resolved on taking possession. We are not able to determine the exact time, when St. Gobban "s built his monastery, on that place, where he saw in vision a host of Angels chanting God's praises ;'' but, it was probably early in the seventh century. Laserian's old church there was possibly an addition to the monastic establishment, firsterectedbySt. Gobban. Wecanscarcelydoubt,thattheoriginalbuild- ings were greatly extended, when St. Laserian had been recognised in the doublecapacityofBishopandAbbot. \Vehaveanotherinterestingrecord.
However, we are told, that in 1795, the i8th of April, being the patron day of St. Laze-
rianus, or Laserian, was specially celebrated. The same author states, our saint was here
"
interred. See
sub-voce. But, in 1833, Ryan says, no patron was then held at this spot, nor was there any memorial whatever of St. Laserian in the
"" Indeed," he adds, there
Leighlin. Notices of him may be seen, at that date.
'S Papebroke has observed, that when treatingaboutSt. GobanDairensis,atthe26th of March, Colgan suspects, without any just reason, this latter person was identical with the Abbot of Leighlin. Papebroke himself conjectures, it should be nearer truth to sup- pose, that the Goban, in his text, was iden- tical with that celebrated father of a thou- sandmonks. Thusishealludedto,inthe
Calendar of Cashel, at the 6th of December :
S. Gob. inus de Killamruidhe juxta mon-
tem Sliab-na-mag-fionn elictum, in Ossoria. " The Editor adds: ''quo scilicet mip-averit
Lithglimtcnsem locum relinquens Lasreano, versus Austrum el Muinonia confinia rece- liendo. "
" See the " Irish Ecclesiastcal Record,"
The
Topographia Hibernia,"
chuvchyard.
can be no doubt, that he was not buried here,
but at Old Leighlin.
"
See "History and An-
tiquities of the County of Carlow," ch. ip. ""
xxxi. , p. 348. On the Ordnance Survey
"
Townland Maps for the County of Carlow (sheet 19), Lorum Church, '"in ruins," is marked on an elevated site. A little distance to the west, St. Molappoge's Well is noted. It
is probable, this must have been originally pronounced St. Molaissi's Well.
y Perhaps, this was the St. Gobban, who is venerated in our Irish Calendars, at the 23rd of May, as belonging to Tigh Scuithin,
identified by Mr. John Hogan, of Kilkenny, . with the present Tascofiin, not far from Old
old series, vol. ii. , September, 1866. mediaeval history,
See of Leighlin, at p. 544. This article
contains an interesting account of Leighlin's
.
Ossory.
place
venerated,
April i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 313
in connection with this spot, which it would seem had been purpled with the blood of Blessed Mael Patrick, a priest andan anchorite, Blessed Mongan, ano-
ther anchorite, and his companions, who suffered martyrdom, in a. d. 916. '' Our holy faith had not been fully planted in Ireland, until what Tertullian has denominated "the martyrs' blood, the seed of Christians,'* watered her soil, and cemented the foundations of her growing Church.
Many and great are the privileges acquired and exercised, by God's holy
It is related, that when St. Laserian and Abbot Goban came to the monastery gate, both met a woman, bearing in her arms the head of her son. This young man had been killed by robbers. The afflicted mother earnestly besought Laserian, in God's name, that her son miglit be restored to life. Her faith was rewarded, by the working of a miracle ; for, no sooner had the head been joined to its lifeless body, than the young man was again restored to his mother. This favour he chiefly owed, to the pious interven- tion of our saint We are informed, in St. Laserian's Acts, that a cross was afterwards erected on the spot, where such miraculous occurrence took place.
"
worshippers.
The locality received, also, the Irish name Kroken, which means the ofthe head. ""'
cross
Such was the esteem, in which St. Laserian's virtues were held, that holy
Abbot Goban resigned for ever the government of Leighlin monastery, in favour of its future patron. It has been suggested,"" that St—. Goban was no other, than he who governed a church at KiU-Lamhruidhe "' now Killamery
parish "—
in the west of
A
St. Goban Finn of this
is
at the 6th of December, and he is said to have been buried, in Clonenagh. "^ However this may be, Goban and his brethren, leaving Old Leighlin, founded areligioushabitation,inadifferentpartofthecountry. Thetasknowcom- mitted to St. Laserian was faithfully and zealously discharged. A religious people were greatly edified, by his preaching without the walls of his monas- tery, while the grace of Divine wisdom descended, in a copious shower, on the hearts of his numerous community. '* Then was fulfilled a reputed prophecy of the great Irish apostle, regarding Laserian. For, when the holy prelate, St. Patrick,»5 had been engaged on the work of his mission, he journeyed along a road, which led through that lovely valley, in which Leighlin was
situated. Hethenstoodonaspot,beyondtheRiverBarrow,whilehelooked towards the site of the monastery, afterwards to be erected. '* St Patrick then
' See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the even mention liis name in the page referred Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 592, 593. The to. "—Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His-
year 616 is incorrectly set down, by Colgan's printer, so that many modem writers have been led astray, regarding the date for this transaction.
'
His words —are :
Christianorum. " "Apologia," sect. 45, sub fin.
'»In the Salamancan MS. , we have no
account, regarding the circumstance of this
cross having been erected. '° "
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xv. , sec. ix. , n. 62, p. 404.
'* It is related, in the Acts of St. Laserian, that he had no less than fifteen hundred dis-
virtues diffused
such fragrant odour, through all parts of Ireland, that those, it is said, who "in eorum odore unguentorum currentcs inter- nam mererentur hortura introire delicia- rum. "
=5 In his Life, at the 17th of March, it must be observed, we have no notice thereof this record.
See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise.
